Archive for November, 2007
The World Clock Project
The World Clock Project hopes to collect pictures of clocks all over the world showing each minute of the day.
We find it intriguing to see a picture of a clock that is located thousands of miles away, but one which tells us the exact time of where we are right now. So we’ve set out to collect as many pictures of clocks as possible from as many different people as possible from around the world. Our goal is to gather enough pictures to account for all the minutes of the day. Upon accomplishing that, we will create a “digital picture clock” for the community.
There are some nice clocks already, and you can submit yours. Link -via Dump Trumpet
(image credit: PatsPiks, Apeldoorn, Netherlands)
Kitten vs. Ferret
(YouTube link)
Looks like they both have a few tricks up their sleeves! -via Arbroath
Satelloons
Have you ever heard of satelloons?
From about 1956 until 1964, US aeronautics engineers and rocket scientists at the Langley Research Center developed a series of spherical satellite balloons called, awesomely enough, satelloons. Dubbed Project Echo, the 100-foot diameter aluminumized balloons were one of the inaugural projects for NASA, which was established in 1958.
Link -via Dark Roasted Blend
North Korea’s Human Jumbotron.
Every year, North Korea organizes the Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang (better known as The Mass Games) to celebrate the late Kim Il-sung’s birthday. One of the highlights of the events is the “human jumbotron” composed of up to 15,000 children flipping through colored placards. Hit play, or go to the Link [YouTube] to view.
For those curious or skeptical, here is another video showing how they created the Jumbotron effect (from the documentary “A state of mind” - via an anonymous comment to South Korea’s human LCD)
My Pet Goldfish
Feed the fish, and he will grow. Just how big, I do not know. I think I will name him Otto. Link -via Dump Trumpet
Mike Gravel sings
Who doesn’t like Mike Gravel? My crazed genius friend rx hooked up with Gravel recently and recorded this video with him. YouTube.
Scientists Create Mouse That Can’t Get Cancer
A mouse resistant to cancer, even to those highly-aggressive types, has been created by researchers at the University of Kentucky. The breakthrough stems from a discovery by UK College of Medicine professor of radiation medicine Vivek Rangnekar and a team of researchers who found a tumor-suppressor gene called “Par-4″ in the prostate.
Researchers discovered that the Par-4 gene kills cancer cells, but not normal cells. Rangnekar’s study is unique in that mice born with this gene are not developing tumors. The mice grow normally and have no defects. In fact, the mice possessing Par-4 actually live a few months longer than the control animals, indicating that they have no toxic side effects.
Via: ScienceDaily
Caption Monkey 14: Fat Coot!
Photo: Chirpy UK [Flickr] - via Cute Overload
Whoa! I’ve been so busy with life/work/baby that I missed posting the Caption Monkey contest yesterday. But fret not, gentle readers, here it is.
The bird is a coot [wiki] - a particularly fat specimen of one, actually. Coots are named so because of their "coot" calls. No words whether those large toes help ‘em float on water.
Now, onto the contest. Ape Lad of Hobotopia has generously agreed to award a monkey (or any other animal) drawing to one lucky reader with the funniest caption.
Contest rules are darned simple: place your caption in the comment section below. One caption per comment, however you can submit as many funny ones as you can think of. You can also vote for your favorite caption, but not your own.
One last thing: Ape Lad is selling original Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comic for $20. Here’s your chance of getting one for Christmas!
Update 11/30/07 - congrats to RasmusJ #8 with the winning caption, picked by Ape Lad himself!
Harold wasn’t fond of bowling.
Alain Bublex’s Aérofiat
In 2002, Alain Bublex modded these fiats into a futuristic-looking "Aérofiat," complete with jet engines, er… fans in the back! Link
Previously on Neatorama: Cute Fiat Micro Car with Canopy and Wicker Seats, Crazy Little Fiat
Thousand Year Old Riddle for All You Dirty Minded People …
The Exeter Book, a tenth century codex of Anglo-Saxon poetry is the largest collection of Old English literature. In addition to poems, there are about a hundred or so riddles (and yes, some of them are quite ribald!)
See if you can guess the answer to this 1,000-year old riddle:
Swings by his thigh / a thing most magical!
Below the belt / beneath the folds
Of his clothes it hangs / a hole in its front end,
stiff-set and stout / it swivels about.Levelling the head / of this hanging tool,
its wielder hoists his hem / above his knee;
it is his will to fill / a well-known hole
that it fits fully / when at full lengthHe’s oft filled it before. / Now he fills it again.
Here’s the answer for all you dirty minded people: Link
Speed bump
This German-speaking fellow is apparently fed-up with kids in muscle-cars racing up and down his residential street. YouTube via Gizmodo via Digg.
The Front Fell Off
In light of the recent oil spill in San Francisco bay, here’s a very funny 1991 episode The Front Fell Off by John Clarke and Fred Dagg Brian Dawe, which made fun of a similar incident in Australia. In the clip, Clarke played the role of a Senator being interviewed regarding the oil tanker Kirki incident (yes, about the tanker’s front falling off). Classic!
Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via Carsons Post, thanks Aaron! | More shenanigans at John Clarke’s official website
Wonder Woman Wardrobe War: Wonder Woman Redesigned by Fans
To celebrate Gail Simone’s new Wonder Woman comic series, Project: Rooftop and Zeus Comics held a drawing contest called Wonder Woman Wardrobe War. In this contest, fans submitted their re-designs of the iconic superhero for prizes.
The designs above (left to right) are by Joe Quinones (Grand Prize Winner), James Stowe (Most Futuristic) and Maris Wicks (Best Out-of-Continuity).
Link | More designs at Zeus Comics website - Thanks Chris Williams!
Previously on Neatorama: Big Beautiful Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman Scissors
Ben Hopson’s Kinetic Sculptures
Syrofoam cubes, string, wire, some wood, and a lot of creativity go a long way. Designer and artist Ben Hopson made this neat kinetic sculpture to explore the movements of objects.
Link [Quicktime movies] (Don’t miss the kinetic lampshade!) - Thanks Ben!
Quote: George Burns on Happiness
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city."
- George Burns, comedian (1896 - 1996)
Computer + Piano = Compiano
A portable computer, it ain’t. But this computer in a piano case-mod by eBay seller compianos, originally built for Elton John, is fantastic!
What you see pictured is a beautiful 1904 Chickering Upright Grand Piano, refinished to its original splendor. To make it a set, a matching refurbished antique Piano Stool is also included. Wrapped in magnificent mahogany, the piano’s warm tones and unique features draws one to it. It boasts superior craftsmanship, as evident in its intricate carved details, beautifully curved keyboard cover and exquisite legs. It has a charming history, as many antique pianos do. But this one also has a secret.
The secret this piano holds is that it is not a piano at all. There is a semi-hidden panel, and when slid down, it is held in place. To raise the panel, simply press it and it will rise automatically. Words cannot describe what it is like to watch the panel rise on its own, as if by an invisible hand.
Here’s a short clip of the computer/piano:
Links: eBay auction - via Elite Choice, thanks KC Gunn!
If you haven’t seen it before, check out Neatorama’s Ultimate Case Mod page.
Celebrities Photoshopped as Star Wars Characters
Here’s another excellent photoshop contest from the always-entertaining Worth1000: Celebrities as Star Wars Characters. The image above is the Einstein Yoda.
Link - Thanks College Online!
Elephant Playing Darts
Here proof that Elephants are intelligent creatures. This one can play darts a well as a human. How’s THAT! for a neat pachyderm Link
Dear Rockers
Do you occasionally feel guilty about downloading music without paying for it? Most folks don’t care about the record companies, but what about the musicians? Darren Barefoot has the solution with a website called Dear Rockers. Write a letter to a musician, and mail it off with $5. The site has a database where you can find many addresses. Also, send a photo or scan of your letter to the website, and they’ll post it. You can clear your conscience, showcase your creativity, and thank a musician all at once! Link -via Metafilter
Christmas on the Radio
Find out which radio stations are already playing wall-to-wall Christmas music in your area, with this list from 100000watts.com. Link
Jellyfish Aquarium
Sooth your mind by watching jellyfish float around, without having to feed them! This jellyfish aquarium contains jellies made of silicone. They even change color! Link -via the Presurfer
Santa Claus Championship
(Live Leak link)
Dave Downey of Perth, Australia has been crowned Father Christmas at the Snoyran Santa Games in Sweden. 30 Santas went nose-to-nose in five categories: chimney climbing, reindeer racing, kick sled racing, porridge eating, and Santa’s Christmas Eve. Official event secretary Elizabeth Landby said:
“He was in third place during most of the time during the competition, but he impressed the judges during the chimney climbing and jumped to first place,” Ms Landby said.
“He was popular among the children … the children thought he was a good Santa.”
Mr. Downey won a gold medal, a diploma, and a hand-made sculpture of Santa, in addition to the title. Link -via Arbroath
Oops
Dark Roasted Blend has a collection of “oops” moments at airports. Some are funny, some are scary, and all are presumed to have been quite expensive. Link
100 Notable Books of 2007
The New York Times has published the list of the 100 Notable Books of 2007 on their website.
What’s your favorite book from this year?
Link - via kottke.org
Morality Quiz
Do you consider yourself a moral person? How would you act if you were presented with a situation where you were forced to make a difficult choice, where depending on what you decide, someone will die?
Time Magazine blog has a Morality Quiz, where you can compare your choices to those made by other readers. For instance, take this scenario:
Scenario 3a: The Trolley
An out of control trolley is heading down a track toward five unsuspecting people and will surely kill them all. You could throw a switch diverting it to a siding, but an equally unsuspecting man is standing there and the train will kill him instead. Could you throw the switch, killing one to save five?
Link (Illustration by John Ritter) - via Scribal Terror
Frank “Cannonball” Richards and His Indestructible Belly
In 1932, Frank "Cannonball" Richards achieved vaudeville fame with his indestructible belly:
Richards began his strange journey into belly abuse by allowing his friends to punch him in the gut. His perceived imperviousness to the trauma prompted him to take the act a step further until, eventually, he was enduring and absorbing body blows from heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey.
‘Cannonball’ Richards steadily increased the level of distress he subjected his belly too. He soon allowed spectators to jump on his stomach. Following that he allowed himself to be struck by a two-by-four and then, later, he was able to endure repeated sledgehammer blows. From all reports and records, there were no gimmicks at work during these performances.
Finally, in a feat that ‘Cannonball’ Richards would forever be remembered for, Richards took to being shot in the belly with a cannonball.
The Human Marvel has more: Link | Or you can watch the video clip here: Link [YouTube]
Star Wars Cake
Duff Goldman of the Ace of Cakes TV show has created some really awesome cakes, but these ones are special: Star Wars cakes!
Here’s an interview with Duff on Star Wars Community:
What were some of the challenges in making the Star Wars cakes?
We are really freaked out about Star Wars that we want to get everything exactly right — down to the trench in the Death Star.
You all did an impressive job with the detailing of those cakes. The Star Destroyer cake looks more like an actual ILM model.
We bought a model to use as a reference. I completely geeked out over all the tiny details we did on that cake.
What were the cakes made of?
The Star Destroyer was chocolate. I can’t remember what flavor the Death Star was.
Did it have a creamy, evil filling?
I wish!
Link (sadly, no Han Solo in Carbonite cake, which was referenced in the interview) - via Super Punch
Did Alien Cause a Sicily Fire?
Are a series of unexplained electric gadget fires in a Sicilian village caused by mischievous aliens or just secret military technology?
Now in an interim leaked report published by several Italian newspapers it has emerged that the Civil Protection Department has concluded the most likely cause was "aliens".
According to the report the fires were "caused by a high power electro magnetic emissions which were not man made and reached a power of between 12 and 15 gigawatts."
The report also detailed a possible UFO landing close to the village, citing "burnt imprints which have not been explained were found in a field." [...]
"This is just one possibility we are also looking at another one which involves the testing of top secret weapons by an unknown power which are also capable of producing an enormous amount of energy."
Link - via Miniature Brains
(Photo: Why, it’s from Plan 9 from Outer Space [wiki], of course!)
Mr. T and William Shatner’s World of Warcraft Ads
I’m pretty sure that, like me, Mr. T and William Shatner never played World of Warcraft, but they sure make some fun ads for the game.
Link [embedded YouTube]
Previously on Neatorama: Toyota’s World of Warcraft Ad, WoWBirthday Cakes, Too Sexy for WoW, The WoW Phenomenon of Leeroy Jenkins
The Man with Five Kidneys
One day, Brigham Nordstrom of Hautapu, New Zealand got a kidney infection and was admitted to the hospital. There, doctors found out that he’s got a little something extra:
"The doctors took a scan. Then I had to get a second one done. They wanted to have another look."
Doctors had found one duplex kidney and one triplex kidney. Instead of having one tube or ureter joining each kidney to the bladder, Mr Nordstrom had two tubes on the left and three on the right.
Accordingly, the duplex kidney has two parts and the triplex has three parts, meaning it is quite likely Mr Nordstrom has five kidneys altogether.
Link - via Spluch (photo: Peter Drury / Waikato Times)
